How hard is Top Chief?

Heading to the Nevis range at the end of August. Will defo do Blue Steel if it’s open, but given Top Chief was originally graded red – is it an ‘easier’ black? Or is it full of huge drops and gaps for non-mortals who usually bimble on reds?

No drops or gaps but it’s fairly steep and committing in places if you are more of a bimbler

It’s difficult without knowing people’s riding but if you are comfortable on rock slabs then that’s the main thing. There’s still loads of grip so easy to take things real slow it you have good braking skills.

It should probably have never been a red to be honest – it is definitely a black so if you struggle on most blacks maybe give it a miss – but if not just take it slow first time down and easy to take a look at things if needed

not that hard TBH and that is coming from a mincer. I would recommend not going flat out on your first run though and the boardwalk can catch people out.

TBH I didn’t think it was that bad, but last time I said that I got told off, soo….It’s harder than most reds, the boardwalk at the start is weird and bit of a head-****, but completely safe…there’s some rolls and stuff like that, but take your time and it’s plenty doable.

I would suggest trying it first in dry conditions – or is it just me who hates wet rocks?

It’s a technical rocky black run which is great if you are used to that kind thing. It’s not a flowy DH run (until the last wee section). Cleaning it is very rewarding and crashing could be high consequence.

Firstly I’ve not ridden it for years so it might have changed but with that caveat I’d say its not hard but it is intimidating. It doesn’t take lots of skill picking lines, moving your weight around, lifting the front wheel, etc, you can roll it all, but you do need to commit and let the bike go in places. If that bothers you then you risk braking in the wrong place and it’ll go wrong. Obviously if you want to ride it fast then you’ll need some skills as well as courage, but going steady should be fine for a competent rider.

I suppose a good question is, what’s the hardest trail you’ve ridden that you’re comfortable with? And have you done much really rocky stuff- lakeland passes, that sort of thing?

There’s no gaps/mandatory air at all. The boardwalk, which gets a lot of attention, is actually dead easy, you can just trundle down it if you want, you just need to be a little careful with wind or rain.

It’s easier than Laggan black… More technical than Mcmoab but physically easier. I’d say definitely harder than any other “trail centre black” I’ve done, there’s basically nothing comparable in most trail centres. (heh- the trail it’s most like, really, is the Megavalanche quali)

You’ve got to be a bit smarter about lines than on most manmade trails, as it’s not always so easy to tell the difference between “where the trail builder wants you to go” and “where you definitely don’t want to go”. Though they’ve gradually filled in some holes, removed some rocks etc to make it less wheeltrappy than it was. It’s definitely easier with a little more speed, and easier still if you can drop or gap some of the fiddly sections rather than have to boulder your way through it.

From about 6-8 minutes is the section where you see most people walking. There’s no one feature or rock that’s especially hard but it’s a long section made up of stuff that’d be the hardest feature on many black trails, without always much time to recover.

Eh that got long. It’s a higher end black, it was never a red. But don’t be put off, if you’re going on the gondola anyway, have a go at it. The big thing is, the absolute worst that can happen is that you go “don’t like this bit” and push a short section but it’s still a long trail that you don’t have to ride to the top, and you’re bound to enjoy a chunk of it even if you hate a short bit. There’s no pressure to just ride up and hit it first time like on normal trails where you’ve ridden upwards for an hour, so you can build up over several runs. And the overall visibility is superb- you’ll never suddenly find yourself in the middle of something you don’t want to ride, because there’s no trees and you’re always riding down onto the next thing so you see it all.

Or maybe you crash and die.

I rode it first time earlier this year and If I’m honest it took me a bit by surprise. The bedrock has loads of grip but some of it is pretty committing. I’m thinking the steep section just after the middle bit of boardwalk.

I’m not great with heights to be honest (rubbish really) and the edges of the boardwalk shit me up as they are pretty high in some places.

I only did the one run, should imagine a 2nd trip down after a sighting run would be much more straight forward / fun.

Loads of great trails in the forest at the bottom that are well worth a pedal around too.

I only did the one run, should imagine a 2nd trip down after a sighting run

First run of the day, slightly damp – really didn’t like it much and found it surprisingly awkward.

Second run, after riding the WC track all day – found it much more flowy and enjoyable.

The rock is grippy on TC wet or dry tbh, makes no difference.

As above, roll down it, follow the red dots, enjoy.

Nobeerinthefridge
Free Member

As above, roll down it, follow the red dots, enjoy.

Unless they’ve repainted them recently this doesn’t work any more, they’re mostly weathered away.

I’m shit and I got down it no problems. So did my 2 mates who are even shitter than me. Wasnt going at race pace obviously, but I can’t remember any parts that were particularly difficult.

It is however definitely harder than the red at GT for example.

Unless they’ve repainted them recently this doesn’t work any more, they’re mostly weathered away.

They used to do it every year, I’ve a mate who works there, I’ll ask.

The issue that gets folk is the length of descent v price of failure. It’s a long way, much longer than most and mucho jaggy rock. Mentally tiring too.

I can validate a few of the above points having crashed breaking my wrist and bruising my ribs on it a few weeks ago.

There was nothing on the trail that was above my riding level however I crashed bad on the first run.

It’s interesting red dots are mentioned, for anyone who knows the track I fell off the drop option on the large rock slab rather than taking the board walk that I’d missed on the rider’s left. Totally my fault for not looking on my first run but it did occur to me there was no signage.

I also think a major factor was tensing up on the bike, I’m not a huge fan of heights and the board walk is strangely intimidating for what should be very easy riding!

But there are no mandatory gaps or drops so if you’re sensible on your first run most riders should be OK.

Its easier to describe it as 3 big sections that are pretty different in character.

The first section is mainly board walk mixed in with some short dirt sections with rock features. None of it is too hard. The board walk can be a bit scary if you aren’t used to it. There is a properly intimidating left hand bend near the end of the first big section that has you staring at nothing but fresh air. But after a while it just clicks that its actually the easy bit.

This bit which start after a little climb and carries on down to the deer fence is the hard bit

Rather than dirt with rock features this is rock with dirt features. You absolutely can mince your way through it (its how I manage) but you have to constantly puzzle out a line as you’ve no speed to get you over any little lumps or snags. If you can carry a bit more speed its actually a bit easier (so I’m told)

Third section after the deer fence you are back to a flowy bike park section. Its either pretty straight forward or an arm pump nightmare depending on how well you’ve ridden the rest of it. Only thing to note is a disgusting little burn crossing full of jaggy rocks and/or piranha about half way along this section.

to make it less wheeltrappy than it was. It’s definitely easier with a little more speed, and easier still if you can drop or gap some of the fiddly sections rather than have to boulder your way through it.

Not ridden it, but seen a few videos of fast runs. It looks much harder to navigate at truly slow speed, looking at a few amateur videos just now.

for anyone who knows the track I fell off the drop option on the large rock slab rather than taking the board walk that I’d missed on the rider’s left. Totally my fault for not looking on my first run but it did occur to me there was no signage.

https://youtu.be/ZoYfl-Sc7h4?t=652 I presume. Easy to miss (or not realise it’s the easier option) if you’re looking ahead I’d say unless you’re on a scouting lap, or remember from a previous lap a) that it’s there, and b) where along this long trail it is.

richmtb
Full Member

Only thing to note is a disgusting little burn crossing full of jaggy rocks and/or piranha about half way along this section.

I’m so happy this is back 🙂 It was cut out for a while because of windblown trees but I really like this whole section. And it always reminds me of my mate Andy falling off the side into the river, which meant we had to take him to hospital in the evening, which meant we could go to the chip shop on the way back and have Second Tea

Its years since me and my wife rode it but I was suprised by its red status.

We rode it 3 times and by the last time she cleaned the lot (much to the dispair of the armoured up chaps pushing their bikes down). I thought it was a great mix of sections and nicely technical in places, props to those that ride it flat out.

Take your time, walk anything you don’t like the look of first time, watch others ride to spot the line then if you think you can clean it give it a go.

I then went and put in a 20 min time on the WC track! Oooh my wrists…

@bikesandboots yea that bit. It’s a rideable line but I realised too late that it was a drop. There’s also an ant nest in the grass at the bottom who’s inhabitants aren’t above biting a winded rider.

Love that off camber burn crossing!

I’m so happy this is back 🙂

Love that off camber burn crossing!

Should have known!

I’m normally hanging by that point having minced my way down the rocks. I’ve had 2 punctures and 1 crash on that bit. Although last time I was there I just gritted my teeth, left the brakes alone, aimed high and it was totally fine on every run.

I’ve just OTB’d on the rock slab drop, tired and didn’t pull up enough. The ground is quite unforgiving, now sat in A&E. anyone in Ft William want a Gondola ticket for tomorrow?

@jimmy748 You fractured it?

@jimmy748 did you follow the red dots that was actually my blood then lie in the ant’s nest too?

Just awaiting an x-ray, I can straighten and twist my arm, but there’s a huge amount of fluid round it, and I can’t bend past 90 degrees, before it swelled up, I could feel crunchy stuff. There’s an extra few bits of red marking the trail now, then pushing rolling down, I noticed a few red splotches.

The other point is it has some fairly sustained steepish rocky bits, similar to what would be a short feature on most man made non-uplift type trails.

Snapped the end of my elbow off ☹️

@richmtb defo mate, everyone is hanging by that point!.

Any word on blue opening yet?….

Ooh ffs jimmy! 🙈

I was going to post that I found it harder than the WC track- caveat I don’t do any of the doubles.

That looks pretty nasty! Hope you heal soon

@jimmy748

Healing vibes, sounds like a sore one.

My last big crash was on Top Chief too. Mine was just dumb luck. A rock the size of my head had rolled onto the trail at the bottom of one of the little rocky drops near the start. I hit it with my front wheel and got knocked sideways, I managed to hold on just long enough to get spat off the high side and hit the deck.

Thankfully nothing broken but my shoulder popped half way out and was sore for months after.

Snapped the end of my elbow off

ouch sounds painful, hope you heal soon dude.

Not my X-ray because they aren’t allowed to let you take a picture of the screen; but if they did, it would look exactly like this.

X-ray because they aren’t allowed to let you take a picture of the screen

They love to make that shit up lol

After he said it, he then said, I’m going over here to do something, take your time looking 😉

Surgery? Do you live in FW or you need to drive home?

My mates driving me home to Bournemouth now, should get it pinned back together tomorrow.

Ooh! That looks sore. I smashed my elbow up when I was a kid, needed a couple of operations, pins and a week in traction. All good now though. Hope you heal well and are back on the bike before the year is out. 🤙

bikesandboots, that video is a hard watch for me. I’m not saying I’m a decent rider as I’m pretty average but IMHO the guy in the video is going way too slow and looks really tense. Basically an accident waiting to happen.

I’m now thinking of going on a road trip to ride the new blue and possibly the red before the summer is out. Might get myself some pads first though.